U.S. patent application number 16/756071 was filed with the patent office on 2020-08-13 for air conditioning control device.
The applicant listed for this patent is DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD., TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY. Invention is credited to Toshiyuki MAEDA, Fulin WANG.
Application Number | 20200256581 16/756071 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 66172941 |
Filed Date | 2020-08-13 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200256581 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
WANG; Fulin ; et
al. |
August 13, 2020 |
AIR CONDITIONING CONTROL DEVICE
Abstract
An air conditioning control device includes a control unit, a
skin temperature measurement unit, an information acquisition unit,
and a determination unit. The control unit controls an air
conditioner that performs air conditioning of a room where a user
is present. The skin temperature measurement unit measures a skin
temperature of the user. The information acquisition unit acquires
thermal sensation information of the user regarding the space where
the user is present. The determination unit determines a
comfortable skin temperature range in which the user feels
comfortable, based on a skin temperature of the user obtained at
the time of acquiring of the thermal sensation information. The
control unit controls the air conditioner based on the comfortable
skin temperature range determined by the determination unit.
Inventors: |
WANG; Fulin; (Beijing-shi,
CN) ; MAEDA; Toshiyuki; (Osaka-shi, Osaka,
JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY
DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD. |
Beijing-shi
Osaka-shi, Osaka |
|
CN
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
66172941 |
Appl. No.: |
16/756071 |
Filed: |
October 17, 2018 |
PCT Filed: |
October 17, 2018 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2018/038705 |
371 Date: |
April 14, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 11/63 20180101;
F24F 2120/10 20180101; F24F 2120/20 20180101; F24F 2110/10
20180101; F24F 11/52 20180101; F24F 11/80 20180101; F24F 2110/20
20180101; F24F 11/64 20180101 |
International
Class: |
F24F 11/80 20060101
F24F011/80; F24F 11/63 20060101 F24F011/63 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 18, 2017 |
CN |
201710978216.9 |
Claims
1. An air conditioning control device comprising: a control unit
configured to control an air conditioner that performs air
conditioning of a space where a user is present; a skin temperature
measurement unit configured to measure a skin temperature of the
user; an information acquisition unit configured to acquire thermal
sensation information regarding the space where the user is
present; and a determination unit configured to determine a
comfortable skin temperature range in which the user feels
comfortable based on a skin temperature of the user at a time of
acquiring of the thermal sensation information, the control unit
being configured to control the air conditioner based on the
comfortable skin temperature range determined by the determination
unit.
2. The air conditioning control device according to claim 1,
wherein the control unit is further configured to control the air
conditioner based on a current skin temperature of the user.
3. The air conditioning control device according to claim 1,
further comprising: a measurement unit configured to measure either
or both of a temperature and a humidity of air in the space where
the user is present, the control unit being further configured to
control the air conditioner based on a measurement value of the
measurement unit,
4. The air conditioning control device according to claim 1,
wherein the skin temperature measurement unit has an infrared
thermography configured to analyze an infrared ray emitted from the
user.
5. The air conditioning control device according to claim 1,
wherein the skin temperature measurement unit is further configured
to measure the skin temperature of the user at least once in five
minutes, the control unit is further configured to estimate current
thermal sensation of the user based on the comfortable skin
temperature range, the comfortable skin temperature range is
determined. by the determination unit, the current skin temperature
of the user, and a rate of change of the skin temperature of the
user, and the control unit is further configured to control the air
conditioner based on the estimated current thermal sensation of the
user.
6. The air conditioning control device according to claim 1,
wherein the skin temperature measurement unit is s further
configured to the skin temperature of the user at least once in
five minutes, and the determination unit is further configured to
update the comfortable skin temperature range when acquiring the
thermal sensation information.
7. The air conditioning control device according to claim 1,
wherein the determination unit further configured to select a lower
limit of the comfortable skin temperature range from a range of
31.degree. C. to 33.degree. C., and select an upper limit of the
comfortable skin temperature range from a range of 33.degree. C. to
35.degree. C.
8. The air conditioning control device according to claim 1,
wherein the determination unit has an initial value of the
comfortable skin temperature range, and the determination unit is
further configured to change the initial value in accordance with a
season or a time period.
9. The air conditioning control device according to claim 1,
wherein the skin temperature measurement unit is further configured
to measure skin temperatures of a plurality of users including the
user, the information acquisition unit is further configured to
acquire the thermal sensation information of the plurality of
users, the determination unit is further configured to determine
comfortable skin temperature ranges of the plurality of users, and
in a case where the plurality of users are present in the space in
which the air conditioner performs air conditioning, the control
unit is further configured to control the air conditioner such that
a total degree of comfort of the plurality of users is increased
based on the comfortable skin temperature ranges of the plurality
of users, or control the air conditioner such that a degree of
comfort of the user having a lowest degree of comfort among the
plurality of users is increased based on the comfortable skin
temperature ranges of the plurality of users, or control the air
conditioner based on the comfortable skin temperature ranges of the
plurality of users and a prioritized order set for each of the
plurality of users.
10. The air conditioning control device according to claim 2,
wherein the skin temperature measurement unit is further configured
to measure the skin temperature of the user at least once in five
minutes, the control unit is further configured to estimate current
thermal sensation of the user based on the comfortable skin
temperature range, the comfortable skin temperature range is
determined by the determination unit, the current skin temperature
of the user, and a rate of change of the skin temperature of the
user, and the control unit is further configured to control the air
conditioner based on the estimated current thermal sensation of the
user.
11. The air conditioning control device according to claim 2,
wherein the skin temperature measurement unit is s further
configured to the skin temperature of the user at least once in
five minutes, and the determination unit is further configured to
update the comfortable skin temperature range when acquiring the
thermal sensation information.
12. The air conditioning control device according to claim 2,
wherein the determination unit is further configured to select a
lower limit of the comfortable skin temperature range from a range
of 31.degree. C. to 33.degree. C., and select an upper limit of the
comfortable skin temperature range from a range of 33.degree. C. to
35.degree. C.
13. The air conditioning control device according to claim 3,
wherein the skin temperature measurement unit is further configured
to measure the skin temperature of the user at least once in five
minutes, the control unit is further configured to estimate current
thermal sensation of the user based on the comfortable skin
temperature range, the comfortable skin temperature range is
determined by the determination unit, the current skin temperature
of the user, and a rate of change of the skin temperature of the
user, and the control unit is further configured to control the air
conditioner based on the estimated current thermal sensation of the
user.
14. The air conditioning control device according to claim 3,
wherein the skin temperature measurement unit is s further
configured to the skin temperature of the user at least once in
five minutes, and the determination unit is further configured to
update the comfortable skin temperature range when acquiring the
thermal sensation information.
15. The air conditioning control device according to claim 3,
wherein the determination unit is further configured to select a
lower limit of the comfortable skin temperature range from a range
of 31.degree. C. to 33.degree. C., and select an upper limit of the
comfortable skin temperature range from a range of 33.degree. C. to
35.degree. C.
16. The air conditioning control device according to claim 4,
wherein the skin temperature measurement unit is further configured
to measure the skin temperature of the user at least once in five
minutes, the control unit is further configured to estimate current
thermal sensation of the user based on the comfortable skin
temperature range, the comfortable skin temperature range is
determined by the determination unit, the current skin temperature
of the user, and a rate of change of the skin temperature of the
user, and the control unit is further configured to control the air
conditioner based on the estimated current thermal sensation of the
user.
17. The air conditioning control device according to claim 4,
wherein the skin temperature measurement unit is s further
configured to the skin temperature of the user at least once in
five minutes, and the determination unit is further configured to
update the comfortable skin temperature range when acquiring the
thermal sensation information.
18. The air conditioning control device according to claim 4,
wherein the determination unit is further configured to select a
lower limit of the comfortable skin temperature range from a range
of 31.degree. C. to 33.degree. C., and select an upper limit of the
comfortable skin temperature range from a range of 33.degree. C. to
35.degree. C.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to an air conditioning control
device that controls an air conditioner.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] An air conditioner that performs air conditioning inside a
room is controlled by a built-in control device or a separately
provided control device. When a user sets a setting value for the
room temperature, a control device including, for example, a
central processing unit (CPU) and a memory controls various devices
of the air conditioner on the basis of the setting value.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Technical Problem
[0003] However, if an air conditioner is simply controlled on the
basis of a setting value for the room temperature, various problems
may occur in that the degree of comfort of the user cannot be
improved or energy is consumed wastefully. In order to cope with
these problems, the air conditioner may be controlled using
standards regarding an indoor thermal environment such as the
predicted mean vote (PMV) and standard effective temperature (SET);
however, these do not sufficiently satisfy the needs of the
user.
[0004] A problem to be solved of the present invention is to
provide an air conditioning control device that improves the degree
of contentment of the user.
Solution to Problem
[0005] An air conditioning control device according to the present
invention includes a control unit, a skin temperature measurement
unit, an information acquisition unit, and a determination unit.
The control unit controls an air conditioner that performs air
conditioning of a space where a user is present. The skin
temperature measurement unit measures a skin temperature of the
user. The information acquisition unit acquires thermal sensation
information of the user regarding the space where the user is
present. The determination unit determines a comfortable skin
temperature range in which the user feels comfortable, on a basis
of the skin temperature of the user obtained at the time of
occurrence of the thermal sensation information. In addition, the
control unit controls the air conditioner on a basis of the
comfortable skin temperature range, which is determined by the
determination unit.
[0006] According to the present invention, the thermal sensation
information of the user such as hot or cold is acquired, and the
comfortable skin temperature range, in which the user feels
comfortable, is determined on the basis of the skin temperature of
the user obtained at the time of occurrence of the information. The
air conditioner is controlled on the basis of the comfortable skin
temperature range, and thus the user's degree of contentment
regarding air conditioning is improved.
[0007] Note that, preferably, the control unit controls the air
conditioner also on a basis of the current skin temperature of the
user in addition to the comfortable skin temperature range, which
is determined by the determination unit.
[0008] In addition, preferably, the air conditioning control device
further includes a measurement unit that measures a temperature
and/or a humidity of air in the space where the user is present. In
this case, preferably, the control unit controls the air
conditioner also on a basis of a measurement value of the
measurement unit.
[0009] In addition, preferably, the skin temperature measurement
unit has an infrared thermography that analyzes an infrared ray
emitted from the user.
[0010] In addition, preferably, the skin temperature measurement
unit measures the skin temperature of the user at least once in
five minutes. In this case, the control unit estimates current
thermal sensation of the user on a basis of the comfortable skin
temperature range, which is determined by the determination unit,
the current skin temperature of the user, and a rate of change of
the skin temperature of the user, and controls the air conditioner
on a basis of the estimated current thermal sensation of the user.
Preferably, the determination unit updates the comfortable skin
temperature range, in which the user feels comfortable, at the time
of occurrence of the thermal sensation information of the user.
[0011] In addition, preferably, the determination unit selects a
lower limit of the comfortable skin temperature range, in which the
user feels comfortable, from a range of 31.degree. C. to 33.degree.
C., and selects an upper limit of the comfortable skin temperature
range, in which the user feels comfortable, from a range of
33.degree. C. to 35.degree. C.
[0012] In addition, preferably, the determination unit has an
initial value of the comfortable skin temperature range, in which
the user feels comfortable, and changes the initial value in
accordance with a season or a time period.
[0013] In addition, in a case where a plurality of users are
present, preferably, the control unit controls the air conditioner
on a basis of comfortable skin temperature ranges of the plurality
of users such that a total degree of comfort of the plurality of
users is increased, or such that a degree of comfort of the user
having a lowest degree of comfort among the plurality of users is
increased, or in accordance with prioritized order set for each of
the plurality of users.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the
configuration of an air conditioning control device.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a flow chart for determining and updating a
comfortable skin temperature range in which a user feels
comfortable.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a flow chart for air conditioning control.
[0017] FIG. 4 is a table illustrating a method for determining a
room temperature setting value using fuzzy logic.
[0018] FIG. 5 is an image including a skin temperature of a user
captured by an infrared thermography.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0019] (1) Configuration of Air Conditioning Control Device
[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates an air conditioning control device 100,
which is a control device for an air conditioner 210, which for
example cools, heats, and ventilates a room (space) 200 where the
user is present. The air conditioning control device 100 includes a
control unit 150, a skin temperature measurement unit 110, an
information acquisition unit 120, a determination unit 140, and a
measurement unit 130.
[0021] The skin temperature measurement unit 110 has an infrared
thermography 112, which analyzes infrared rays emitted from the
user. An image as illustrated in FIG. 5 can be obtained by using
the infrared thermography 112. From this image, the skin
temperature measurement unit 110 measures the skin temperature of
the user.
[0022] The information acquisition unit 120 acquires thermal
sensation information of the user. The information acquisition unit
120 is, for example, an input device such as a display with a touch
panel function (man machine interaction device) or a keyboard, and
sends thermal sensation information input by the user to a computer
220 in a wired or wireless manner. In a case where a display with a
touch panel function is employed as the information acquisition
unit 120, preferably, an application is installed on the device and
the software helps the user to perform input. In addition, if a
plurality of mechanical input buttons are employed as the
information acquisition unit 120 and the user is caused to manually
input thermal sensation information such as hot or cold, it is
possible to reduce the cost of the input device.
[0023] Note that, in this case, a display with a touch panel
function is employed as the information acquisition unit 120, and
it also serves as a device through which the user inputs a
temperature target value and a humidity target value for the
room.
[0024] The determination unit 140 and the control unit 150 are
function units that are caused to function by a program executed by
the computer 220. The determination unit 140 determines a
comfortable skin temperature range in which the user feels
comfortable, on the basis of the skin temperature obtained at the
time of occurrence of thermal sensation information, that is, the
skin temperature of the user obtained at the time when the user
inputs the thermal sensation information in this case. The control
unit 150 controls the air conditioner 210 on the basis of the
comfortable skin temperature range, which is determined by the
determination unit 140.
[0025] The computer 220 includes a central processing unit (CPU), a
memory, and a storage device storing programs, functions as the
control unit 150 when a program for air conditioning control is
executed, and functions as the determination unit 140 when a
program for determining a comfortable skin temperature range, in
which the user feels comfortable, is executed. The programs
executed by the computer 220 include many logic functions and
program code modules realizing process execution commands.
[0026] The measurement unit 130 measures, for example, the
temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration of
air in the room 200, where the user is present. Specifically, the
measurement unit 130 is constituted by a plurality of sensors
including a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor.
[0027] A measurement value of the measurement unit 130 is used by
the control unit 150 to control the air conditioner 210. The
details will be described later.
[0028] (2) Determination and Update of Comfortable Skin Temperature
Range, in which User Feels Comfortable, Performed by Determination
Unit
[0029] FIG. 2 illustrates a flow chart regarding an operation of
the determination unit 140, that is, determination and update of
the comfortable skin temperature range, in which the user feels
comfortable.
[0030] The determination unit 140 monitors at all times whether
thermal sensation information of the user, an example of which is
input information such as hot or cold, has been sent from the
information acquisition unit 120, which is an input device (step
S31). In step S31, in a case where it is determined that no thermal
sensation information of the user has occurred, that is, there is
no input, the determination unit 140 remains on standby. In a case
where, in step S31, the determination unit 140 determines that
thermal sensation information of the user has occurred, the process
proceeds to step S32 and the skin temperature of the user is
measured or acquired. As the skin temperature of this user, the
skin temperature measured shortly before occurrence (input) of the
thermal sensation information of the user may be employed or the
skin temperature measured right after the occurrence may be
used.
[0031] Note that the skin temperature measurement unit 110 measures
the skin temperature of the user at least once in five minutes, and
once in a minute in this case.
[0032] In step S33, the determination unit 140 determines a
comfortable skin temperature range, in which the user feels
comfortable, with an online learning method, which is an algorithm
in machine learning models, using the thermal sensation of the user
and the skin temperature of the user. In addition, in a case where
a comfortable skin temperature range is already present, the data
of the old comfortable skin temperature range used so far is
replaced (updated) by the determined comfortable skin temperature
range.
[0033] By using the online learning method, specifically, when the
user inputs that he or she is feeling hot, the determination unit
140 replaces a comfortable skin temperature upper limit value with
the skin temperature of the user obtained at the time when the user
performs input. In contrast, when the user inputs that he or she is
feeling cold, the determination unit 140 replaces a comfortable
skin temperature lower limit value with the skin temperature of the
user obtained at the time when the user performs input.
[0034] Note that, in this case, on the basis of study results
regarding the thermal sensation of many people, the determination
unit 140 selects the lower limit of the comfortable skin
temperature range (the comfortable skin temperature lower limit
value) from a range of 31.degree. C. to 33.degree. C. In addition,
the determination unit 140 selects the upper limit of the
comfortable skin temperature range (the comfortable skin
temperature upper limit value) from a range of 33.degree. C. to
35.degree. C.
[0035] (3) Air Conditioning Control Performed by Control Unit
[0036] As described above, the control unit 150 executes air
conditioning control. The control unit 150 performs air
conditioning control on the basis of the comfortable skin
temperature range, which is determined by the determination unit
140. In addition, the control unit 150 estimates the current
thermal sensation of the user on the basis of the current skin
temperature of the user and the rate of change of the skin
temperature of the user in addition to this comfortable skin
temperature range, and performs air control on the basis of the
estimated current thermal sensation of the user.
[0037] FIG. 3 illustrates a flow chart of air conditioning control
performed by the control unit 150. First, in step S41, it is
determined whether the comfortable skin temperature range has been
changed. In a case where the comfortable skin temperature range has
been changed, the control unit 150 reads the comfortable skin
temperature range (step S42). Otherwise, the process proceeds to
step S43. In step S43, the measurement unit 130 reads measurement
values of the temperature, humidity, and CO2 concentration of air
in the room 200. In step S44, the control unit 150 determines
individual target values for the temperature, humidity, and CO2
concentration of the room using fuzzy logic, and controls the air
conditioner 210 using proportional-integral-derivative (PID)
control. In the following, as an example, a method for determining
a target value for the temperature of the room will be described in
detail.
[0038] FIG. 4 is a table illustrating estimation of the thermal
sensation of the user based on the current skin temperature of the
user, and adjustment logic for a room temperature setting value (a
target value for the temperature of the room) based on the
estimation of the thermal sensation of the user. The control unit
150 calculates individual coefficients using the comfortable skin
temperature upper and lower limit values obtained by the
determination unit 140 as described above, and further obtains the
rate of change of the skin temperature of the user (dt/d.tau.)
using the current skin temperature of the user (t skin). The
control unit 150 then adjusts the room temperature setting value in
accordance with the rate of change of the skin temperature and the
difference between the current skin temperature of the user and a
comfortable skin temperature (the value obtained by dividing the
sum of the comfortable skin temperature upper and lower limit
values by two). On the basis of the room temperature setting value
and the current temperature of the room (the room temperature), the
control unit 150 performs air conditioning control by, for example,
increasing-decreasing an output of the compressor of the air
conditioner 210 such that the room temperature approaches the room
temperature setting value.
[0039] (4) Characteristics of Air Conditioning Control Device
[0040] With the air conditioning control device 100 described
above, the information acquisition unit 120 acquires the thermal
sensation information of the user such as hot or cold, and the
comfortable skin temperature range, in which the user feels
comfortable, is determined on the basis of the skin temperature of
the user obtained at the time of occurrence of the information. The
control unit 150 controls the air conditioner 210 on the basis of
the comfortable skin temperature range, and thus the user's degree
of contentment regarding air conditioning is improved.
[0041] (5) Modification of Air Conditioning Control Device
[0042] An example of the air conditioning control device has been
described above, and it will be understood that various changes may
be made to embodiments and their details without departing from the
gist and scope of the present invention described in the
claims.
[0043] For example, the determination unit 140 may change initial
values of the comfortable skin temperature range, in which the user
feels comfortable, in accordance with a season or a time period.
Regarding the season, it is conceivable that the initial values are
set to 31.5.degree. C. to 33.5.degree. C. in summer and the initial
values are set to 32.5.degree. C. to 34.5.degree. C. in winter.
Regarding the time period, it is conceivable that relatively low
initial values are set in a rainy period and relatively high
initial values are set in a dry period.
[0044] In addition, in the embodiment described above, a display
with a touch panel function that causes the user to manually
perform input is employed as the information acquisition unit 120;
however, instead of this, a device can be employed that acquires
thermal sensation information of the user by measuring, for
example, sweat on the user and the user's heartbeat and voice. In
this case, the user can be saved from having to manually perform
input.
[0045] In addition, in the embodiment described above, the
measurement unit 130 measures temperature, humidity, and CO2
concentration and air conditioning control is performed such that
the individual environmental parameters approach the target values;
however, the device may be a device that measures only temperature
and performs air conditioning control through which only a target
temperature value is adjusted.
[0046] In addition, in the embodiment described above, the skin
temperature measurement unit 110 measures the skin temperature of
the user once in a minute; however, if real-time measurement is
performed by the infrared thermography 112, more precise air
conditioning control is possible.
[0047] In addition, the above-described embodiment has been
described using the flow charts illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 as an
example; however, in the programs executed by the computer 220, the
individual logic functions and program code modules may be executed
in reverse order or in parallel. This will be understood by
engineers of this technical field.
[0048] In addition, in the embodiment described above, the main
portion of the air conditioning control device 100 is realized by
hardware, software, units, or a combination therefrom. That is,
many processes or methods are realized by software of an
appropriate command execution system stored in the storage device
or by units. However, instead of this, for example, a logic gate
circuit realizing a logic function using a data signal, a discrete
logic circuit, a collected circuit dedicated to logic gates, a
programmable gate array, a field-programmable gate array, or the
like may be employed.
[0049] In addition, the case where one user is present in the room
to be cooled or heated has been described in the embodiment above;
however, even in a case where a plurality of users are present in
the room, the degree of contentment of one user or a plurality of
users regarding air conditioning can be improved. After comfortable
skin temperature ranges in which the respective users feel
comfortable are determined, the air conditioning control device
converts, for example, the degrees of comfort of the users into
points (which indicates that the higher the point, the higher the
degree of comfort) on the basis of these comfortable skin
temperature ranges, and can control the air conditioner such that
the total point of the users present in the room becomes the
highest. Other than this, air conditioning control can be performed
so as to increase the degree of comfort of the user having the
lowest point (the lowest degree of comfort) among the users present
in the room, or air conditioning control can be performed so as to
increase the degree of comfort of the highly prioritized user based
on prioritized order preset for the individual users.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
[0050] 100 air conditioning control device
[0051] 110 skin temperature measurement unit
[0052] 112 infrared thermography
[0053] 120 information acquisition unit
[0054] 130 measurement unit
[0055] 140 determination unit
[0056] 150 control unit
[0057] 200 room
[0058] 210 air conditioner
[0059] 220 computer
* * * * *